Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Every once in awhile we get a glimpse of a "modern" technique being used decades before it's supposed invention.

The use of a vertical forward grip has been considered a modern addition to a rifle but evidence of the items use keep popping up in documentary footage. Vuurwapen Blog has a freeze frame of a Marine on Iwo Jima with a vertical grip on a Thompson.

Recently while watching documentaries (one of my favorite past times) I saw a WWII era Service Member (Soldier or Marine? I'm not great with period uniforms I'm leaning Marine) using what appeared to be a vertical forward grip on a Browning BAR.

This image is from 'The Color of War' Episode 4 'Victory' about five minutes in. You can find the documentary on NetFlix. Perhaps the use of such items aren't modern; just more popular.

Monday, October 29, 2012

I was glancing through a recent shipment of firearms and noticed a rifle sized box with Diamondback Firearms' Logo on it. This caught me off guard because I was only aware of DB manufacturing pistols. I pulled the box from the rest and opened it to see an AR-15 rifle colored in what most would consider Tan or Flat Dark Earth. I immediately navigated to DB's Website to find some details on the rifle but found their description extremely lacking (as in there were no details). Widening my search I found Guns Gear and Holsters had run an article about rumors of this AR with a street price around $900. It appears that the rifle is completely manufactured in house at DB.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

SHOT Show 2013 is just around the corner (January 15-18 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center Las Vegas, NV) and folks are already prepared for the event. I will not be attending this year due to school but I will be creating another SHOT Show Coverage Collection Point just like I did last year.
My predictions from last year weren't as accurate as I would've liked but 2013 is another year. So here they are:

Benelli will introduce barreled actions in different gauges for their modular Vinci platform to included magazine tubes

Crimson Trace will expand their LightGuard line of products to fit the Beretta 92/96/M9 series of pistols

The introduction of several new pistol caliber carbines

Savage Arms will bring a modular chassis system for their rifles to market

Saturday, October 6, 2012

It appears those evil gun dealers have taken a break from supplying Mexican Drug Lords to help out the San Benito PD by taking in on trade some of their old shotguns and pistols for a few Bushmaster AR-15's.

Investigator Rogelio Banda from the San Benito Police Department shows off his department's new toys to the local media. The reporter in the video informs us that the officers will receive a whole eight hours of training (extensive I'm sure) before they are able to take the rifles on patrol. The following quote from Investigator Banda is the best by far:

"The particular bullets; assault, you know from a, from a assault rifle they're more powerful, they travel faster, they, and you can hit targets up to 300 yards you know they're very accurate."

There has to be at least one gunnie in that department banging his head against a table. We are also given a lesson on how these particular magic bullets will be more effective. Correct me if I'm wrong (which is often) but why is this department loading their magazines with, what appears to be, Winchester Ballistic SilverTips; when Winchester has a offers a much more suitable load in their PDX1 line of ammunition? It can be argued that at the end of the day ammo is ammo but the black bullet and nickle case sure are sexy.

I first sat-up and took notice when the Bullpup forum posted a video from SHOT Show 2012 'unofficially' announcing to the masses the intent of IWI to finally introduce the Tavor to the U.S. I've never really given bullpups much attention because I run long guns left handed, but with the capability to switch the Tavor to left hand with a few different parts... they have my attention.

According to the video from SHOT they were hoping for a release by September/October 2012 "just before the election". Obviously that won't be happening and a new updated timeline puts availability at May 2013 with a $1900 MSRP.

I have no need for another semi-auto 5.56mm platform but the Tavor looks pretty damn sweet. Let's just hope it shows up to the party and performs as advertised.